John Robert Murphy on lead vocals was a strong Journey front-man, with Ralph Carbone on guitar and vocals, Teddy Cook on drums and vocals, as well as Lance Millard on keyboards and vocals. The band rocked as a whole.
They kicked off their set with “Separate Ways,” and it was followed by “Stone in Love” and Lights,” where the listener felt like they were at an actual Journey show.
Equally fun were “Ask the Lonely” and the power-ballad “Open Arms.” Murphy complimented Mulcahy’s for being a “very nice” venue, and thanked everybody for coming out tonight. “Who’s Crying Now” was more laid-back and mellow, yet nostalgic.
After Murphy introduced the band, he joked that they get paid per song. They closed their set with the popular ballad “Faithfully” and the inspirational “Don’t Stop Believin’,” where everybody was singing along. Just when one thought it was over, they belted out “Lovin’ Touchin’ Squeezin'” and the infectious “Anyway You Want It.”
The Verdict
Overall, Evolution did the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Journey justice at Mulcahy’s. Despite the heavy rain in the New York area, they put on an entertaining and fun show that resonated well with the fans of Journey. Evolution is worth seeing live when they are in town. Their set garnered an A rating.
To learn more about the Journey tribute band Evolution, check out their official homepage.